Man accused of punching bus driver charged

Michael Cubie

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -

A man accused of sucker punching a Kansas City Area Transportation Authority bus driver has been charged.

The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office said they've charged 18-year-old Michael Cubie with a felony assault with intent to commit bus hijacking. Cubie also faces a misdemeanor charge of third-degree assault.

Court documents said police were called to the area of 39th Street and Park Avenue on an assault. A bus driver said he picked up several young men at the 39th Street and Indiana Avenue bus stop. The driver said the young men didn't pay for the bus ride so he told them to get off.

According to court documents, the driver told police he remembers two of the young men getting off the bus and, the next thing he knew, other passengers were telling him he had been assaulted.

During interviews, witnesses told police Cubie made a statement about hitting the bus driver before walking up to him and punching him in the face, leaving him unconscious. One witness said the bus then began going out of control and she was afraid it was going to run people over.

When officers spoke to Cubie, he admitted to getting on the bus without planning to pay as well as planning to punch the bus driver. He said he punched the driver because he was having a bad day.

The bus driver has recovered and has returned to work. Tips helped lead to the arrest.

The bus authority issued the following statement Friday night:

"The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority is pleased that an arrest has been made in the Oct. 1 assault of a Metro bus operator. We would like to thank the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department for their diligence in this case. We would also like to thank the citizens who contacted law enforcement to help identify the assailant.

KCATA is happy to report that the bus operator is now doing well and has returned to work. Thank you to everyone who took the time to send well wishes to the operator; it is heartening to hear support from near and far for the men and women who are on the roads every day, providing safe and efficient transportation to the Kansas City community.

Finally, KCATA is pleased that the video cameras installed on our buses have played a crucial role in solving this crime, allowing responsible citizens to identify the assailant."

Earlier:

A man on a metro bus punched the driver and it's all caught on tape.

Police said it happened Monday night near 39th Street and Indiana Avenue. Surveillance video shows a group of people getting off the bus and then one of them punched the driver.

The driver was knocked out and suffered serious injuries.

Anyone with information about the incident and suspect is asked to call the TIPS Hotmail at 816-474-TIPS.

To see the entire video, click here. Warning: some may find the video disturbing.

Here in the city that's home to "University-6," as the University of Louisville is identified in a federal criminal complaint filed by the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the feeling of devastation is exceeded only by anger and disbelief.

Here in the city that's home to "University-6," as the University of Louisville is identified in a federal criminal complaint filed by the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the feeling of devastation is exceeded only by anger and disbelief.